Tax extension squelches accountability

Monday

Jul 7, 2014 at 12:01 AMJul 7, 2014 at 10:31 AM

The Westerville City Council approved legislation to bring before the voters of Westerville a renewal of the quarter-percent income tax dedicated to the community parks system, including parks, green spaces and facilities. While I can support in general this income tax, I do not support this particular legislation and urge the voters of Westerville to defeat this request when it appears on the ballot.

The Westerville City Council approved legislation to bring before the voters of Westerville a renewal of the quarter-percent income tax dedicated to the community parks system, including parks, green spaces and facilities. While I can support in general this income tax, I do not support this particular legislation and urge the voters of Westerville to defeat this request when it appears on the ballot.

Currently we are paying the one-quarter of 1 percent income tax through year 2020. With this legislation, the city is proposing to obtain the approval for this tax six years before it expires. In addition, City Council now wants this tax levy to be for another 20 years. Times have changed, as has the burden of taxes on all residents.

We need more fiscal responsibility in our government whether a quarter-percent or 10 percent as the amount is not the key with this legislation. Rather, we need to hold the government responsible for its actions, and proposing a tax extension six years in advance of the expiration of the current tax and then proposing it for another 20 years just does not sit well with me.

I strongly encourage the Westerville City Council to reconsider this. Wait until the current tax is near expiration, and propose a length of time that at least allows us to hold the government responsible for its actions, as well as giving us the opportunity to review its success on a more-realistic timeline.

And by the 2020 expiration of the current tax, we might decide at that time that the quarter-percent is insufficient for our community parks system and necessitates an increase in the amount of income tax at that time.